SENATE MEMORIAL 133

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Gay G. Kernan

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO MEDICAL BOARD AND THE BOARD OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO MEET AND CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR MERGING THE BOARD OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE INTO THE NEW MEXICO MEDICAL BOARD.

     WHEREAS, while osteopathic medicine and traditional western or allopathic medicine originally had significant differences in practice methodologies, both schools of practice have moved toward a model of care that relies on new and traditional models with an integrative approach; and

     WHEREAS, osteopathic physicians and osteopathic physician assistants are currently licensed by the board of osteopathic medicine, which is administratively attached to the regulation and licensing department; and

     WHEREAS, medical doctors and allopathic physician assistants are currently licensed by the New Mexico medical board, which operates as an independent agency; and

     WHEREAS, while later training requirements differ for osteopathic physicians and medical doctors, during the first two years of allopathic medical school and osteopathic medical school, the educational requirements are exactly the same; and

     WHEREAS, graduates of allopathic medical schools may apply for residencies in osteopathic medical settings, and osteopathic medical school graduates may apply for residencies in allopathic medical settings; and

     WHEREAS, beginning in the year 2020, the accreditation council for graduate medical education will accredit residencies for both medical doctors and osteopathic physicians; andWHEREAS, medical doctors may currently train osteopathic physicians, and osteopathic physicians may currently train medical doctors; and

     WHEREAS, osteopathic physicians currently are allowed to supervise allopathic physician assistants, and medical doctors currently are allowed to supervise osteopathic physician assistants; and

     WHEREAS, having two licensing boards for the two medical practice schools reproduces costly administrative structures;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico medical board and the board of osteopathic medicine be requested to convene a meeting of the directors of both boards during the 2017 interim to discuss, with input from stakeholders, ways in which to integrate the two licensing boards in an expanded New Mexico medical board to the satisfaction of both boards and their respective memberships; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico medical board and the board of osteopathic medicine be requested to report to the legislative health and human services committee, by November 1, 2017, their findings and recommendations for legislation to merge the board of osteopathic medicine with the New Mexico medical board pursuant to their discussions with each other and with the superintendent of regulation and licensing and representatives of the New Mexico osteopathic medical association, the New Mexico medical society and the New Mexico academy of physician assistants; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the executive director of the New Mexico medical board, the chair of the board of osteopathic medicine, the superintendent of regulation and licensing, the executive director of the New Mexico osteopathic medical association, the executive director of the New Mexico medical society, the executive director of the New Mexico academy of physician assistants and the chair of the legislative health and human services committee.